When does the Netflix Pride and Prejudice series premiere?

Netflix's six-episode Pride and Prejudice series, written by Dolly Alderton and starring Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden, premieres on Dec. 3, according to Netflix.

What classic romance novels should you read in 2026?

Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion by Jane Austen and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë are back on screen: a Netflix series, a 2022 Netflix film and a 2026 film by Emerald Fennell.

What is Eden Gardens State Park?

Eden Gardens State Park, in Santa Rosa Beach on the Emerald Coast, centers on the Wesley House, an 1897 mansion surrounded by moss-draped live oaks and ornamental gardens, according to Florida State Parks.

Enchanted at Eden Gardens: classic love stories to read on the Emerald Coast

By the Books Desk, Emerald Coast Dispatch Published Oct. 29, 2026, 10:57 pm

Gray Spanish moss hangs from the branches of old live oak trees above a green lawn and a garden path.

Spanish moss in the live oaks at Charles Pinckney National Historic Site in South Carolina.Photo: National Park Service

There is an 1897 house in Santa Rosa Beach wrapped in moss-draped live oaks, with a rose garden and a secret garden that fills with camellias in winter. It is Eden Gardens State Park, and it looks like the first chapter of a 19th-century love story.

“Enchanted” is Taylor Swift’s song about one magical night. Eden Gardens is that feeling stretched over a whole afternoon, and the right book for it is a classic, the kind that is suddenly everywhere again.

Why are classic romance novels popular again?

Classic romance novels are back because the screen keeps bringing them back. Netflix premieres a six-episode Pride and Prejudice series on Dec. 3, written by Dolly Alderton, with Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet and Jack Lowden as Mr. Darcy, according to Netflix.

Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights”, with Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, opened in UK and Irish cinemas on Feb. 13, 2026, according to Warner Bros. And Netflix’s Persuasion, with Dakota Johnson as Anne Elliot and Cosmo Jarvis as Captain Wentworth, came out on July 15, 2022, according to Netflix.

The books came first, and they still do it better.

Why should you read Pride and Prejudice before the Netflix series?

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, is the blueprint for every enemies-to-lovers book on your shelf. Elizabeth Bennet finds Fitzwilliam Darcy arrogant, then decides to dislike him even more when he interferes between her sister Jane and Mr. Bingley, according to Penguin Random House.

It is a comedy about first impressions, and why they are wrong. Read it before Dec. 3, so you can judge every Darcy stare on your own terms.

Which classic romance is about second chances?

Persuasion, by Jane Austen, is the second-chance romance that started them all. Anne Elliot is 27 and once broke off her engagement to the naval captain Frederick Wentworth, persuaded by Lady Russell, according to Penguin Random House. Eight years later, they meet again, in Lyme Regis and Bath.

Swifties, this is “Back to December” in a bonnet: regret, a man who seems to have moved on, and a letter you will read three times.

Which classic romance is the darkest?

Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë, is the one that hurts. A visitor stranded by a snowstorm at the bleak house called Wuthering Heights learns about Catherine and Heathcliff, whose love turns into betrayal and revenge that reaches the next generation, according to Penguin Random House.

It is not a cozy book. It is a storm, and the reason a whole new generation is arguing about Heathcliff again.

How do you spend a romantic afternoon at Eden Gardens State Park?

Eden Gardens State Park is at 181 Eden Gardens Road in Santa Rosa Beach and is open from 8 a.m. to sunset every day of the year, according to Florida State Parks. Entry is a per-vehicle fee paid at an honor box, and correct change is required.

The Wesley House at the center of the park was built in 1897 by William Henry Wesley, near his lumber mill, according to the park’s history page. Lois Maxon “fell in love with the place,” bought it in the 1960s, filled the house with her family’s antiques and gave Eden Gardens to the State of Florida in 1968.

Take a guided tour of the house, picnic along Tucker Bayou, then find a bench under the oaks. Start with Austen. End with the storm.

Get the book

Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy and the danger of first impressions.
Buy on Amazon
Persuasion
Jane Austen
Eight years after a broken engagement, Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth meet again.
Buy on Amazon
Wuthering Heights
Emily Brontë
Catherine, Heathcliff and a love that turns into a storm.
Buy on Amazon

Books marked Editor’s Choice are written by a member of our team. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Questions and answers

When does the Netflix Pride and Prejudice series premiere?: Netflix's six-episode Pride and Prejudice series, written by Dolly Alderton and starring Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden, premieres on Dec. 3, according to Netflix.
What classic romance novels should you read in 2026?: Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion by Jane Austen and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë are back on screen: a Netflix series, a 2022 Netflix film and a 2026 film by Emerald Fennell.
What is Eden Gardens State Park?: Eden Gardens State Park, in Santa Rosa Beach on the Emerald Coast, centers on the Wesley House, an 1897 mansion surrounded by moss-draped live oaks and ornamental gardens, according to Florida State Parks.

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